PERSONNEL
Joe Louis Walker (vocals, electric and acoustic guitars and harmonica); Bruce Katz (piano and organ:); Jon Ross (electric and acoustic bass);
Mark Teixeira (drums and percussion); Duke Robillard (electric and acoustic guitars on tracks 1, 6, 7, 8, and 11); Todd Sharpville (electric guitar); Doug James (baritone and tenor saxophones); Scott Aruda (trumpet) : Shemekia Copeland shares the vocal on Lover’s Holiday track 3.

TRACKS
It’s A Shame * Midnight Train * Lover’s Holiday * Hustlin’ * Witness * Rollin’ and Tumblin’ * Highview * I Got What You Need *
Keep On Believin’ * 100% More Man * Sugar Mama. 11 total

Shemekia Copeland SPCD 1337 Executive Producer: Holger Petersen Produced by Duke Robillard
Stony Plain Recording Co PO Box 861 Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T51 2L8
E-mail: info@stonyplainrecords.com

A compact disc issued by the Canadian Stony Plain Label is another showcase for blues artist Joe Louis Walker, soulful and like his boxer namesake hard hitting and packing a knockout punch with musical dexterity. A widely travelled exponent of modern day blues Joe Louis Walker has numerous other very successful CD’s, albeit on other labels, to his credit and this latest one appears to be equal in merit thus appealing to those who have a taste for this style of presentation.

The contemporary blues scene is a far cry from the frankness and restraint of the original format. The Afro-American slave population giving vent to their trials and frustrations by way of vocal outcry is very simply explained by fellow Delta blues singer Eddie James ‘Son’ House, “all I can say is that when I was a boy we always was singin’ in the fields. Not real singing you know, just hollerin’. But we made up our songs about things that were happening to us at the time, and I think that’s where the blues started”. The eminent composer W. C. Handy, often referred to as the Father of the Blues, summed it up in his one liner,

It was in the early 1920’s that the first evidence was recorded of this harmonious expressionism, mostly to the accompaniment of a rhythm guitar or similar stringed instrument. The subsequent progression of the Blues is a varied and complex issue, similar in many ways to the advancement and development of Jazz music. Significant changes in style, tempo and presentation all lead to the modern day Blues we have on this collection.

Joe Louis Walker born in San Francisco on Christmas Day 1949 is no stranger to hardship and adversity. Following the tragic death of a close colleague he successfully altered his life-style completely. Abandoning the rock scene, he enrolled in an educational project at the San Francisco State University which led to degrees in both English and Music. His long term association with The Spiritual Corinthians furthered his interest and affection for gospel music.

In the mid eighties he decided the time was right to launch himself whole-heartedly into the music business as a purveyor of modern day Blues.
Not only is Joe Louis Walker an exceptional guitarist but he is also a prolific songwriter and arranger. The majority of tracks on this varied and commendable compact disc are his own compositions whilst the others being traditional material, have been given the unmistakable Walker adaptation treatment.

The musical accompaniment throughout is worthy of favourable comment.

Many of to-day’s performers rely on the technical wizardry of their acoustic / electric guitars in order to extract the most excruciating sounds, quite possibly to intentionally overshadow their own inadequacies and shortcomings, not so in this case. Neither do we hear honking saxophones or sky-high trumpets. What is evident is an adaptable rhythmic accompaniment well suited to the situation.

Pianist Bruce Katz is worthy of special mention, his discerning work is paramount and indicates his complete understanding and allegiance to the cause. Listening one more time may well kick-start a new learning curve into the Blues of to-day…………